Resolutions for 2010

Rev. Randy M. Bourgeois

Published: Friday, January 15, 2010 at 11:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 15, 2010 at 9:24 a.m.

Have you made your 2010 New Year resolution? This year, as in years gone by, many will enter into New Year resolutions with excitement, and new found invigorating anticipation of reaching their desired goals.

For some, through steadfast commitment and hard work, their goals will be reached, thus obtaining resolved change. Yet for others, anticipated resolutions for change will regretfully be abandoned, resulting only in the disappointment of unmet goals.

And even though it takes willpower and determination to accomplish resolutions, some will trust their fate to other avenues for success. For some, placing trust in astrology or card reading may be where their hope for change will come from. Additionally, there are those who have hopes that they will win big in the gambling arena.

May I first discourage you from trying to accomplish your resolution through astrology, card reading, gambling, etc.? These, along with other avenues of hope, will eventually bring harmful regret to your life. Even though you believe these things can reward you in this coming year — eventually there is going to be a tremendous price to be paid. Furthermore, resolutions through the wrong avenues will eventually bring heartache instead of blessing.

Perhaps you need a little encouragement this year with your resolution. Perhaps you truly desire to enter into 2010 with hopes for positive change in your life. And, you know that you need certain power in order to accomplish your resolution goal. Then how about first allowing the Jesus of the Bible into your life? He alone can bring real satisfaction and needed change to our lives.

Are you tired of hoping for change only to be disappointed? Even this past Christmas, many may have already come to understand the “hope that disappoints.” There is always someone who “hopes” for a certain something for Christmas only to find that their hope ended in disappointment.

Wouldn’t you agree that making a resolution most likely will never even happen without hope for change? Sadly, however, in this life, much of our anticipated hope ends in disappointment. But here’s the good news ... the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 5:5 that the right “hope does not disappoint.”

But what hope is he talking about? The hope he is talking about is the hope we obtain once we are, “justified by faith,” according to Romans 5:1. This is our hope in the Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

When you receive Jesus (John 1:12) into your life by faith, he transforms your life from a sinner to a saint (1 Corinthians 1:2), and gives you the assurance that you are a child of God (Romans 8:16). And friend, God takes good care of his children.

Resolutions will always be accompanied by essential “hope” and “power.” Nevertheless, the hope and power we need for the right change and accomplishment comes from God alone. Someone may say, “I want to reach the goal of my resolution, but I need help.” Jesus promised in John 14:16-17 that when you invite him into your life, “he will give you another helper.”

The “helper” — the Holy Spirit of God — will help you live a life pleasing to him, and which is good for you. God knows the things that are good for you and the things that are not. If you trust him, he will give you the power to break those old habits that are destroying your life, while providing the power to make right choices for new resolutions that will bless your life.

Once Christ lives in you, he will help your desires match his desires for you. Therefore, the resolutions you make for the New Year are the ones he wants for you, and which are best for you. The psalmist wrote in Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

The Rev. Randy M. Bourgeois is pastor of First Baptist Church of Raceland, 104 Mississippi St., Raceland. Opinions expressed in this column represent the views of the columnist, not necessarily this newspaper. He can be reached at cajun_pastor@yahoo.com.

<p>Have you made your 2010 New Year resolution? This year, as in years gone by, many will enter into New Year resolutions with excitement, and new found invigorating anticipation of reaching their desired goals. </p><p>For some, through steadfast commitment and hard work, their goals will be reached, thus obtaining resolved change. Yet for others, anticipated resolutions for change will regretfully be abandoned, resulting only in the disappointment of unmet goals.</p><p>And even though it takes willpower and determination to accomplish resolutions, some will trust their fate to other avenues for success. For some, placing trust in astrology or card reading may be where their hope for change will come from. Additionally, there are those who have hopes that they will win big in the gambling arena.</p><p>May I first discourage you from trying to accomplish your resolution through astrology, card reading, gambling, etc.? These, along with other avenues of hope, will eventually bring harmful regret to your life. Even though you believe these things can reward you in this coming year — eventually there is going to be a tremendous price to be paid. Furthermore, resolutions through the wrong avenues will eventually bring heartache instead of blessing.</p><p>Perhaps you need a little encouragement this year with your resolution. Perhaps you truly desire to enter into 2010 with hopes for positive change in your life. And, you know that you need certain power in order to accomplish your resolution goal. Then how about first allowing the Jesus of the Bible into your life? He alone can bring real satisfaction and needed change to our lives.</p><p>Are you tired of hoping for change only to be disappointed? Even this past Christmas, many may have already come to understand the “hope that disappoints.” There is always someone who “hopes” for a certain something for Christmas only to find that their hope ended in disappointment.</p><p>Wouldn't you agree that making a resolution most likely will never even happen without hope for change? Sadly, however, in this life, much of our anticipated hope ends in disappointment. But here's the good news ... the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 5:5 that the right “hope does not disappoint.”</p><p> But what hope is he talking about? The hope he is talking about is the hope we obtain once we are, “justified by faith,” according to Romans 5:1. This is our hope in the Lord and savior Jesus Christ.</p><p>When you receive Jesus (John 1:12) into your life by faith, he transforms your life from a sinner to a saint (1 Corinthians 1:2), and gives you the assurance that you are a child of God (Romans 8:16). And friend, God takes good care of his children.</p><p>Resolutions will always be accompanied by essential “hope” and “power.” Nevertheless, the hope and power we need for the right change and accomplishment comes from God alone. Someone may say, “I want to reach the goal of my resolution, but I need help.” Jesus promised in John 14:16-17 that when you invite him into your life, “he will give you another helper.”</p><p>The “helper” — the Holy Spirit of God — will help you live a life pleasing to him, and which is good for you. God knows the things that are good for you and the things that are not. If you trust him, he will give you the power to break those old habits that are destroying your life, while providing the power to make right choices for new resolutions that will bless your life.</p><p>Once Christ lives in you, he will help your desires match his desires for you. Therefore, the resolutions you make for the New Year are the ones he wants for you, and which are best for you. The psalmist wrote in Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”</p><p>The Rev. Randy M. Bourgeois is pastor of First Baptist Church of Raceland, 104 Mississippi St., Raceland. Opinions expressed in this column represent the views of the columnist, not necessarily this newspaper. He can be reached at cajun_pastor@yahoo.com.</p>